Talks held on future of development

The creation of a sporting village at Odsal remains a Bradford Council goal, a senior councillor has pledged.

But aspects of how the long-standing plans will come to fruition remain unclear with private investment hard to come by, according to newly-published minutes of a meeting of the Council’s
regeneration and economy scrutiny committee.

A £5 million contract with the doomed regional development agency Yorkshire Forward for remedial work has been withdrawn and a timescale on delivering the project is not easy to establish, the
report says.

The document also shows that Councillor Dave Green, the Council’s executive member for regeneration and economy, told the committee one of the problems was that the private sector would not back
the Council’s plans because the sector seemed to have been put off by the project not being “a main Council priority” in the last ten years.

He said financing of the project was an issue.

At the same meeting, minutes show Tony Stephens, the Council’s assistant director of leisure services, said £15m had been agreed for the project but “raising any shortfall would take time”.

A steering group, representing partners involved in the project, is chaired by Councillor the Reverend Paul Flowers, the Council’s executive member for culture planning and housing.

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In a statement to the Telegraph & Argus, Coun Flowers said: “The ambition to create a sports village, including a new stadium at Odsal, remains. We are working with partner groups to explore
ways of achieving that goal.

“However, the sports village plan is subject to the same pressures as all council services and spending plans. We can’t make any firm funding commitments while the Council budget has yet to be
agreed.”

Council leader Ian Greenwood said he echoed the sentiments of Coun Flowers.

“I note that the Labour Group appears to remain committed to the project.

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“Obviously we are in extraordinary times. It really is time for something to happen.”

Peter Hood, who sits on the steering group as chairman of Bradford Bulls, whose stadium would be redeveloped as part of the project, said: “We are very busy. The partners group continues its work
as normal.”

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Comments (15)

Will they still have sports in the year 3000 or are I being over optimistic?

Will they still have sports in the year 3000 or are I being over optimistic?albion

Will they still have sports in the year 3000 or are I being over optimistic?

Score: 0

flashdonut says...11:34am Wed 19 Jan 11

The saying goes 'Rome wasn't built in a day'. It was built a **** sight quicker than the Odsal Superdome Wembley of the North Sporting Village.... . The council should be ashamed. Not just Odsal, but all sporting venues in the city. . We USED to have first class cricket, world speedway, a big RL club, two professional football teams etc. . All sport has been let down.

The saying goes 'Rome wasn't built in a day'. It was built a **** sight quicker than the Odsal Superdome Wembley of the North Sporting Village....
.
The council should be ashamed. Not just Odsal, but all sporting venues in the city.
.
We USED to have first class cricket, world speedway, a big RL club, two professional football teams etc.
.
All sport has been let down.flashdonut

The saying goes 'Rome wasn't built in a day'. It was built a **** sight quicker than the Odsal Superdome Wembley of the North Sporting Village.... . The council should be ashamed. Not just Odsal, but all sporting venues in the city. . We USED to have first class cricket, world speedway, a big RL club, two professional football teams etc. . All sport has been let down.

Score: 0

Apollo says...12:07pm Wed 19 Jan 11

The natural bowl in which Odsal Stadium sits was formed as a glacial overflow channel at the end of the last Ice Age at least 10000 years ago. It will be another 10000 years before it is developed if Bradford Council are involved. Stop printing these ridiculous stories every few months.

The natural bowl in which Odsal Stadium sits was formed as a glacial overflow channel at the end of the last Ice Age at least 10000 years ago.
It will be another 10000 years before it is developed if Bradford Council are involved.
Stop printing these ridiculous stories every few months.Apollo

The natural bowl in which Odsal Stadium sits was formed as a glacial overflow channel at the end of the last Ice Age at least 10000 years ago. It will be another 10000 years before it is developed if Bradford Council are involved. Stop printing these ridiculous stories every few months.

Score: 0

colgre says...12:20pm Wed 19 Jan 11

A quite news day I suppose ? I would rather the council grit pavements & roads etc... than draw up more plans for the " mythical Odsal sporting village " & this is from a Bulls season ticket holder.....COYB

A quite news day I suppose ? I would rather the council grit pavements & roads etc... than draw up more plans for the " mythical Odsal sporting village " & this is from a Bulls season ticket holder.....COYBcolgre

A quite news day I suppose ? I would rather the council grit pavements & roads etc... than draw up more plans for the " mythical Odsal sporting village " & this is from a Bulls season ticket holder.....COYB

Score: 0

Bone_idle18 says...12:32pm Wed 19 Jan 11

As much as I'd love to see Odsal redeveloped, at this present moment I think there are far more pressing areas where council tax payers money could be spent. Mitigating job losses for one!

As much as I'd love to see Odsal redeveloped, at this present moment I think there are far more pressing areas where council tax payers money could be spent. Mitigating job losses for one!Bone_idle18

As much as I'd love to see Odsal redeveloped, at this present moment I think there are far more pressing areas where council tax payers money could be spent. Mitigating job losses for one!

Score: 0

yorkshiredude says...12:34pm Wed 19 Jan 11

Surely this opportunity is now long gone, the amount of funding available for the previous £75m proposal at Odsal will never be available again - and even then there was a huge funding gap. Given the huge strains on local government finance - I think the Sports Village, as was, is completely dead in the water. The only way forward would be with a private sector partner, such as a retailer, but we've been there before and failed.

Surely this opportunity is now long gone, the amount of funding available for the previous £75m proposal at Odsal will never be available again - and even then there was a huge funding gap. Given the huge strains on local government finance - I think the Sports Village, as was, is completely dead in the water. The only way forward would be with a private sector partner, such as a retailer, but we've been there before and failed.yorkshiredude

Surely this opportunity is now long gone, the amount of funding available for the previous £75m proposal at Odsal will never be available again - and even then there was a huge funding gap. Given the huge strains on local government finance - I think the Sports Village, as was, is completely dead in the water. The only way forward would be with a private sector partner, such as a retailer, but we've been there before and failed.

Score: 0

old speckled hen says...1:10pm Wed 19 Jan 11

i wouldnt let the council near it , as it will just end up a hole in the ground ,followed by a flooded grassed pitch that they forgot to put drains into

i wouldnt let the council near it , as it will just end up a hole in the ground ,followed by a flooded grassed pitch that they forgot to put drains intoold speckled hen

i wouldnt let the council near it , as it will just end up a hole in the ground ,followed by a flooded grassed pitch that they forgot to put drains into

Score: 0

basil fawlty says...1:34pm Wed 19 Jan 11

No surprises here. Presumably there is funding for the village but not for the stadium because the Bulls clearly dont have milions of pounds at their disposal. So isnt it time to face reality and get the Bulls to Valley Parade. If there was any justice the Odsal stadium site would then be turned into the Bradford Arena to hold major concerts and events and put the proposed Leeds Arena out of business.

No surprises here. Presumably there is funding for the village but not for the stadium because the Bulls clearly dont have milions of pounds at their disposal. So isnt it time to face reality and get the Bulls to Valley Parade. If there was any justice the Odsal stadium site would then be turned into the Bradford Arena to hold major concerts and events and put the proposed Leeds Arena out of business.basil fawlty

No surprises here. Presumably there is funding for the village but not for the stadium because the Bulls clearly dont have milions of pounds at their disposal. So isnt it time to face reality and get the Bulls to Valley Parade. If there was any justice the Odsal stadium site would then be turned into the Bradford Arena to hold major concerts and events and put the proposed Leeds Arena out of business.

Score: 0

mad matt says...2:23pm Wed 19 Jan 11

*long sigh* Here we go again - there's enough hot air coming from Bradford council to heat every home in the area - for free!

*long sigh* Here we go again - there's enough hot air coming from Bradford council to heat every home in the area - for free!mad matt

*long sigh* Here we go again - there's enough hot air coming from Bradford council to heat every home in the area - for free!

Score: 0

Joedavid says...2:34pm Wed 19 Jan 11

Council finish the City Center please.

Council finish the City Center please.Joedavid

Council finish the City Center please.

Score: 0

Carlos the Tackle says...2:52pm Wed 19 Jan 11

I agree with Mad Matt ... 'Here we go again' It fills column inches in the paper and it's fair to say it more uplifting to read this than the diatribe regarding City Centre regeneration.

I agree with Mad Matt ... 'Here we go again'
It fills column inches in the paper and it's fair to say it more uplifting to read this than the diatribe regarding City Centre regeneration.Carlos the Tackle

I agree with Mad Matt ... 'Here we go again' It fills column inches in the paper and it's fair to say it more uplifting to read this than the diatribe regarding City Centre regeneration.

Score: 0

BD16 says...3:03pm Wed 19 Jan 11

Joedavid wrote…

Council finish the City Center please.

Well said Joe, finish the city centre first. That will attract more money and investment into Bradford than a Rugby ground half full 20 times a year.

[quote][p][bold]Joedavid[/bold] wrote:
Council finish the City Center please.[/p][/quote]Well said Joe, finish the city centre first. That will attract more money and investment into Bradford than a Rugby ground half full 20 times a year.BD16

Joedavid wrote…

Council finish the City Center please.

Well said Joe, finish the city centre first. That will attract more money and investment into Bradford than a Rugby ground half full 20 times a year.

Score: 0

allannicho says...3:14pm Wed 19 Jan 11

Why don,t the Council ask Ken? I hear he has a bob or two? Tell him we want it under the P.F.I. system like the Government uses.

Why don,t the Council ask Ken? I hear
he has a bob or two?
Tell him we want it under the P.F.I. system like the Government uses.allannicho

Why don,t the Council ask Ken? I hear he has a bob or two? Tell him we want it under the P.F.I. system like the Government uses.

Score: 0

Far Away says...4:17pm Wed 19 Jan 11

albion wrote…

Will they still have sports in the year 3000 or are I being over optimistic?

If the Council have any sort of hand in this project whatever gets built will have fallen down long before then.

[quote][p][bold]albion[/bold] wrote:
Will they still have sports in the year 3000 or are I being over optimistic?[/p][/quote]If the Council have any sort of hand in this project whatever gets built will have fallen down long before then.Far Away

albion wrote…

Will they still have sports in the year 3000 or are I being over optimistic?

If the Council have any sort of hand in this project whatever gets built will have fallen down long before then.

Score: 0

Thee Voice of Reason says...7:57pm Wed 19 Jan 11

Here is a tip for free Bradford Council. . Why don't you finish something you have actually started before turning your attention else where. . This ship has sailed. Back in 97 Bolton built the reebok stadium at a cost of £35m, we are building a park in the town center for £25m.

Here is a tip for free Bradford Council.
.
Why don't you finish something you have actually started before turning your attention else where.
.
This ship has sailed. Back in 97 Bolton built the reebok stadium at a cost of £35m, we are building a park in the town center for £25m.Thee Voice of Reason

Here is a tip for free Bradford Council. . Why don't you finish something you have actually started before turning your attention else where. . This ship has sailed. Back in 97 Bolton built the reebok stadium at a cost of £35m, we are building a park in the town center for £25m.

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